Opposition briefing: Arne Slot's new-look Liverpool

Match previews

4 Aug 2024

Crystal Palace are back at Selhurst Park to take on Liverpool on Saturday, 5th October (12:30 GMT) – before kick-off it’s time to get the lowdown on our latest opponents…

Factfile

Manager: Arne Slot
Current Position: 1st
Ground: Anfield
Founded: 1892 (130 years ago)

What’s the story?

At Anfield, there was a hope that the Jürgen Klopp era would never end. Winner of every major trophy, including a first Premier League title in 30 years back in 2020, he brought the good times back to the red half of Merseyside and instilled in the club a belief that they could overcome any adversity or opposition to succeed. His departure at the end of last season was a major shock.

Arne Slot’s Reds haven’t been holding back, with Mo Salah, Darwin Núñez and Cody Gakpo and co. up to their usual tricks. Liverpool hit three at the San Siro against AC Milan, three against Bournemouth in the Premier League and five against West Ham in the League Cup, showing their readiness to challenge on all fronts this season.

“It feels good [to be top of the league]," he said after victory against Wolves last weekend. "You want to be up there but it doesn’t tell me that much at the moment. After 19 games, it’ll tell me something but not after six."

Despite Slot’s positive start, a rare home defeat to Nottingham Forest demonstrated a chink in Liverpool’s armour. With questions over squad depth after an unusually quiet transfer window, with winger Federico Chiesa the only player to arrive, there will be a hope that injuries or surprise setbacks don’t derail their early momentum.

The boss

Klopp is a near-impossible act to follow, but Arne Slot has started in fine fashion. The Dutchman transformed Feyenoord both in terms of playing style and silverware, reaching the Europa Conference League final in his first season and winning the title in his second, while playing an attractive, attacking brand of football. Can he have similar success at Anfield? His positive start has him on the front foot.

Boot in both camps

Benteke was almost signed by Jürgen Klopp for Borussia Dortmund, and although the move fell through he was soon reunited with the German at Liverpool. Benteke signed in the summer of 2015 alongside future Palace teammate Nathaniel Clyne, but fell out of favour under Klopp and departed the following summer after a single season at Anfield.

His arrival at Crystal Palace was for a club-record fee, and he went on to score 37 times for the club, including one of the greatest last-minute winners away at Brighton in 2021.

His 35 in the Premier League make him the Eagles’ second-highest scorer in the competition behind Wilfried Zaha.

Check out more of the Palace heroes to pull on a Liverpool shirt by clicking HERE.

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Record against Palace

The Eagles will be looking to make it back-to-back victories against Liverpool after coming out on top at Anfield in March.

Palace were written off by many pundits before travelling to face Liverpool as Jürgen Klopp’s side aimed to keep up the pressure at the top of the table. The Eagles had alternative plans, however.

Oliver Glasner’s side scored one of the best goals Anfield had witnessed all season, as a free-flowing team move saw Liverpool carved open, with quick, one-touch football creating space for Ebere Eze to slot home in front of the Kop.

Palace’s defensive commitment in the second-half was phenomenal, with last-ditch challenges and goalline clearances preserving the lead and earning a fantastic three points.

2 minute highlights: Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace

Did you know?

Liverpool were founded in a split with Everton. In 1892, Anfield was already hosting sell-out games on Merseyside – but the home side was Everton, not Liverpool. However, when the committee fell out with Club President and owner of the land at Anfield John Houlding, Everton relocated across Stanley Park to Goodison Park.

Left with an empty stadium, Houlding found himself in a tricky situation, and launched a new club as a result: ‘Everton FC and Athletic Grounds Ltd’, known as Everton Athletic for short.

When the Football Association refused to recognise a second club called Everton, they changed names and became Liverpool FC instead.

It’s a familiar sight on matchdays at Anfield: scarves aloft, banners waving and You’ll Never Walk Alone belted out from the Kop End. However, they were not the first English club to adopt the song as a pre-kick-off ritual.

In fact, their biggest rivals got there first. The tune was first written by Rodgers and Hammerstein for the 1945 musical Carousel, and was consistently one of the most popular songs of the era. In 1958, following the Munich Air Disaster which saw eight Manchester United players and 15 others lose their lives, the song was performed in tribute.

Members of an operatic society headed to Old Trafford for the first home match after the tragedy, and the fans in the stadium – familiar with the tune – joined in the singing in an act of solidarity.

The song first became a part of Liverpool folklore when local group Gerry and the Pacemakers recorded their 1963 cover, which reached number one in the UK charts. Bill Shankley heard a preview of the new record, and decided to incorporate it into the club. “Gerry my son,” Shankley told lead singer Gerry Marden, “I have given you a football team and you have given us a song.”

The song was later adopted by Celtic after their 1966 Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final victory over Liverpool, and is still sung by fans of Borussia Dortmund.

Match details

Saturday, 5th October
12:30 BST
Selhurst Park
TNT Sports
Live audio commentary on Palace TV+

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